The winless Jacksonville Jaguars were set to rely on Pro Bowl wide receiver DJ Chark to help turnover-prone rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence improve as the 2021 season continues.
Taking on the Cincinnati Bengals Thursday night, that thought pretty much came to an end early in said game. Chark was carted off the field in the first quarter with an ankle injury.
Reports from Cincinnati now conclude that Chark suffered a fractured ankle and is out indefinitely.
To say that this is brutal news for the Jaguars would be an understatement. Sure DJ Chark and Lawrence have had issues connecting through the first three games (31.8% completion). But the former LSU standout remains one of Jacksonville’s best skill-position players.
A second-round pick of the Jaguars back in 2018, Chark recorded 126 receptions for 1,714 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2019 and 2020.
With DJ Chark out indefinitely, another young receiver in that of Laviska Shenault Jr. will have to step up moving forward.